Page 136 of The Wildcard

All Akash’s people,he thought venomously as he checked Noah’s pulse on the side of his neck. Flinched when he found none. The boy’s face had paled, his eyes still wide open when Angel pulled away from him with harsh breath. He shut those eyes gently, his heart pounding in his chest as he mumbled a soft prayer and got to his feet.

All hisrage, griefpoured off him in waves as he moved to stand beside Ray and lifted his gun. Saw Akash and Irene already standing before them, covered by those masked strangers, grinning at them maliciously. That ringing, thatroarbecame louder as Ray growled beside him, shaking with leashedangeras she shot down those who came after them.

“Youfucking assholes,”Came Kyle’s yell of fury behind them as the boy pushed past Verana and screamed at those two standing up ahead,

“COME FACE US YOU COWARDS!”

“Get down!”

It was Ray who grabbed him and ran to the nearby table she saw.

Vera was at her side, Kyle fuming next to her as the girls heaved and pushed the table down to form a barricade.

Angel covered them by shooting at anyone who came close to their huddle and was just out of bullets when Ray grabbed his hand and pulled him down roughly. No longer sitting ducks, Angel panted as he leaned back against the wooden table and heaved a breath.

“–fuckingidiot,”he heard Vera snap as she pulled Kyle beside her as well. Angel turned his head to look at Ray and stilled when he found her frozen on the ground. The look of surprise andbetrayalhad stuck in her eyes as she combed a shaking hand through her hair and exhaled sharply. His eyes crinkled in understanding, and he clenched his teeth, turning away from her to peep at the huddle of people out there.

The crowd had already dispersed, some going to protect Maya and Alessandro at their backs, while the others contemplated which sides to choose. The atmosphere had darkened, morbidly so. The wind howled dangerously above their heads, with the sounds of bullets ricocheting with them. His eyes narrowed as he caught the view of Akash and Irene talking behind the wall of people surrounding them, looking absolutely relaxed. Angel tapped his thumb against the metal of his gun relentlessly, waiting for them to arrive, to–

“NOW!”

A humorless grin took place on his lips as he turned swiftly on his heels and got up to his knees, watching the hell unleash.

Watching his people comerainingdown on those masked shadows.

His heart pounded in his chest when he saw Jack and Christina come with a militia of people behind them. As the latter snarled and shot the first person she saw. His shoulders stiffened in surprise, his smile dropping when he saw Mia walk in beside hisfather,another group of recruits behind them.

All those people watched Martin De Santos give brief yet firm orders before running away with a nod. Angel frowned as he saw Mia turn to him with an odd glow in her eyes but didn’t have time to question it as a bullet grazed past him and Ray shoved him down again,

“Quit zoning out.”she snapped, her voice dry but venomous as she turned on her knees as well, propping her gun on the wooden edge and breathing out. He saw her eyes dart around, trying to catch the smallest gap in the barrier that Akash had created around himself. And sighed when she cursed and sat back down again,

“There’s no openings.” She whispered and looked at him from the corner of her eyes, “Your father’s here.”

Angel shrugged, “I know.”

Ray sighed again and swiped the beads of sweat off her face before turning to look at Kyle, “Where’s Alessandro?” she asked, turning over her shoulder. Angel followed her line of sight but found no one on the dais. Only stains of blood and small fires.

The wind howled again and Angel saw Kyle sit forward, his green eyes ablaze as he snarled lowly,

“Probably killing as many as he and mom can with their bare hands.”

Angel knew he didn’t imagine the hint of pride in those words but bristled at it regardless. Maya’s rage was unending, and now Akash’s name would be written on the ledger inred.

“So Akash was behind everything huh,” Angel breathed, “June Kincaid, the ambush, Sorin?”

Ray didn’t say anything beside him, just pulled her knees to her chest and placed her head on top of it. He heard her breathe out, her hand which was hanging up ahead, shaking as she said something that had him straining his ears.

“Ira never told me.” She said softly, enough for Vera andKyle to get distracted in another conversation, “She never told me that Akash was her boss. Thathewas behind all this.”

“Maybe she didn’t know,” Angel replied just as quietly and flinched as another loudbangzoomed through the air. Ray breathed out beside him,

“It's not that, I–” a pause that had his brows furrowing in question, “I just don’t know anymore. And I don’t know how I’m going to protect Ira from Maya’s wrath if we get out of this unscathed.”

He had a distinct feeling that she had changed her words at the last moment but decided not to question it. Decided to let it go as another bullet landed on the wooden table hard enough for it to jerk forward.

“How long are you going to continuehiding, Raylene Walker?”

Sudden shivers erupted on Angel’s arm as Ray stiffened beside him. His blood ran cold as he realized what they were here for. What they had been looking for all this time.But they were out of time, Angel thought furiously as he heard Ray breathe out harshly,his people were already here.